PROSPER Initiative
Navigation and support for expectant and new parents, caregivers, and families living with substance use disorder in Washington and Hancock counties, Maine.
Who We Are
In the fall of 2021, a collaborative network of Hancock and Washington County healthcare providers, nonprofits, and community members partnered to launch the PROSPER Initiative, a project designed to support pregnant women, mothers, and families with Substance Use Disorder.
What We Do
PROSPER responds to your needs as a pregnant person or new parent with Substance Use Disorder. You, your infant, and your support system (friends, partner, relatives) can count on compassionate, person-centered navigation, mentoring, education, training, care coordination, advocacy, referrals, and overall supports. We serve expectant and new parents (and their support systems) living in Hancock and Washington counties.
We work to prevent stigmatization, discrimination, criminalization, and marginalization of women seeking treatment to benefit themselves and their infants.
We walk with you through the experience of pregnancy and as a new parent to ensure that you feel supported and prepared for parenthood.
PROSPER's Community Health Navigation support is free of charge.
Our Services
Personal Care Plan
Personalized support is important in this process. The PROSPER team is dedicated to working with you to create a specialized care plan to meet your goals, address your needs and challenges, and support you in your recovery, pregnancy, parenthood, and life.
Navigation Support
Once your individualized care plan is in place, the vital next step of PROSPER is to assist you to implement your care plan, while we support you to meet your needs and reach your goals. Our team will be with you each step of the way.
Parenting and Life Skills
During this chapter of life, there can be many questions that arise. Whether it's around employment, benefits, safe housing, social supports, self-care, treatment, pregnancy, parenting, or other questions, we will assist you in finding the best solution for you.
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In the August 2022 episode of the Island Health & Wellness Foundation’s “Just For The Health Of It” podcast, Caroline Bloss and Sonya Connelly sat down with Executive Director Anne West to discuss the PROSPER Initiative. Click below to listen:
Connect
Connect with a PROSPER Community Navigator and get the support you need on your journey to reach your pregnancy, parenting, and treatment goals.
To request supportive services through the PROSPER Initiative, please click here.
Providers: Please click here to complete a PROSPER Provider Referral Form.
For more information or additional assistance, please call (207) 974-7460 or email prosper@healthyacadia.org.
The PROSPER Initiative is made possible through a collaborative partnership between Downeast Community Hospital, Healthy Acadia, Maine Families, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital, and Pleasant Point Health Center, Passamaquoddy Tribe.
The PROSPER Initiative is supported by Rural Communities by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,000,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The views presented here are those of Healthy Acadia and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.